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Research, record family’s vaccinations

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Thursday April 10, 2014 5:28 AM

The Dispatch has reported that the lack of vaccinations among students in local schools
has helped spread the mumps cases in our community (“Lack of vaccination helps spread mumps,” last
Thursday).

With more than 150 cases now reported, there are evidenced-based actions that can be taken to
prevent another outbreak.

Pediatricians statewide support parental education about vaccines to help parents make informed
decisions and to help them understand the importance of keeping vaccinations up to date through
routine well-child visits.

We support mandating vaccinations for entry into child-care settings at all levels, from birth
to college. One simply needs to look at how one case of mumps at Ohio State University now is
linked to at least 100 cases to understand how important it is for children who are in group care
or close living settings to receive these critical vaccinations.

Additionally, attempts by special-interest groups to fracture the medical home in our state can
lead to missed vaccinations and lack of parental education about important health topics. That’s
why we work hard to ensure that any efforts to improve access to health care for Ohio children
maintain the high quality and consistency of care available through a licensed pediatrician.

This is not the time to panic over the spread of preventable diseases like mumps, but it is the
time to look at our public policies and utilize evidence-based medical practices that can prevent
and eliminate these diseases in our local community.

More information about vaccinations for children of all ages can be found at ohioaap.org.